How To Create An Outline For A Successful Article

When you were in high school, you created outlines for your essays. When you went to college, it became outlines for your chapters. It doesn’t matter how many times, we’ve done outlines, article writing and essay writing have always been at the bottom of the list of things that most people want to do. Unfortunately, in today’s business world, a lot of articles are being written to promote various products and services.

There are a whole lot of people who would rather have root canal than write articles. You may fall into this group. However, there are other people who write articles for living and don’t really mind the article writing process. It all comes down to having methods in for procedures to writing articles effectively and quickly. That’s where the outline comes in.

One of the methods that you can use to make article writing easier is to create an outline beforehand. When you make an outline for writing your articles, you’re more prepared, and writing goes much easier. It is essential that you have some idea of what kind of articles you want to write first, then make a plan on paper as to how you want to write them. Organization is the key to getting the job done, and with article and essay writing is no different.

An outline is like a blueprint for your article. It’s a design that would help you when you create your introduction, body and conclusion of your article. With it, you can jot down some ideas and sentences that you might want to include within the framework of your outline As you go along, you’ll first introduce your main points and introduce the reason for reading your article. As a result, you will feel more confident about making writing and create an appealing style of delivery to your readership.

When you sit down to write articles, think of them as projects. With every new project you want to be prepared with a blueprint of what you want the article to look like. Below are some tips and techniques that will show you how to quickly create an outline for most of your articles.

First, do a little brainstorming and jot down the ideas that come to mind. Think about what you’re writing about and try and come up with some things that might be attractive to your readership. With the brainstorming, do some research and add to your initial notes. Review your ideas and notes so that you have a good idea of the article as a whole. In that way, writing the article later on will be much easier for you.

After brainstorming and a bit of research, you’re going to want to find a sub topic for your article’s first main point. This sub topic should be related to the main topic and give a little bit more information about the main topic. The facts in the sub topic should support your main point.

Every article has a framework or skeleton. All you need to do is connect some flesh or meat to your skeleton, and you’ll have an article. Each paragraph should have a main topic and a couple of sub topics that support the main topic. At the end of each paragraph there should be a transition sentence that leads into the next main topic. With the next main topic, you should also have some sub topics that relate to that main topic. When you’re done introducing your main topics, it’s time for conclusion. The conclusion wraps all of the main topics and gives the reader an overview of the article. At the end, the reader should be able to deal with a problem or issue that was addressed in the article.

This outline will allow you to make a first draft quickly. At this point in the writing process, don’t worry about grammar and punctuation. Just worry about getting your points and sub points together in a coherent form so that you can go back and edit later. All you need to remember is the introduction gives you the big picture of the problem that you’re going to solve and introduces your main points. The main points than have sub points and transitions to the next point. At the end, you have a conclusion that wraps up everything and shows the reader how each of the points allows them to deal with the problem introduced in the beginning of the article.

Proofread and reread what you’ve written while referring to your outline. You want to always refer back to your outline to make sure that you haven’t drifted away from what you were attempting to convey in the article. Once you have the outline down, it’s not hard to get caught up in a writing frenzy, however, you want, the article to be clear, concise and helpful. So, you will want to avoid digressing too far from the points that you’ve outlined. Relying on your outline, to keep you on track is very helpful, and you’ll find that it’s very easy to write articles in this manner.

38 Comments

  • Jeen hao

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Nice article Reed. Articles are the most important stuff in internet marketing =)

    Jeen haos last blog post..Monetize Your Blog with PPC Ad Network

  • Melody Baker

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Hello Reed,

    This is in reference to your email titled” Quit messing around …”. First of all, I am not messing around. I am fighting for my LIFE. Maybe you should read this:

    http://apps.facebook.com/petitions/view?pid=777610467

    and then maybe reconsider things. I spent all day today, at the Specialist, who BTW, is not getting paid by my insuruance, getting an update, of which he informed me of my new timeline, which is 2 MONTHS.

  • Timothy Millar

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Hey Reed, I guess I did pay a little bit of attention in school, I write my post and then go to submit it but by the time I get it typed in it doesn’t look the same. I guess you would call that editing on the fly. Have a Wonderful Day,Timothy Millar

    Timothy Millars last blog post..Jacob Mails Updated

  • Ron Stein

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Excellent points on an important subject. An other thing I do is to keep a file with ideas that I collect that I can refer to.

    Keep up these great articles coming!

  • Husanto

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Nice Article friend… I think you one of a great Internet markerter.

    http://husanto.com/blog

    Husantos last blog post..The 100 Million Dollar Challenge

  • normz2

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Good plot for article writing, it is not the easiest thing for me to do. I usually have my wife proof read for me. Some of her comments can be worthwhile.

  • Edouard Askmo

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Good post about writing articles well.
    I have bookmarked this page and will read what is said very carefully. “An outline is like a blue print.” I give a couple of examples of topics and themes that can be written about.

    1. Life is short !
    2. Relationships define who we become.
    3. The conscience of the self could be defined
    as the soul. But the soul is more.
    4. Get a better understanding of pre-conscience

    I will come back to this comment opportunity and try to say something smart about the above text :-).

    Edouard Askmo

  • David Enders, D.C.

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Very helpful and interesting article. Will have to work on this – most of my article writing comes by inspiration and sweat! FYI: Renegade University Professional has an excellent step-by-step video presentation on article writing.

  • Nickolove Lovemore

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Hi Reed,

    Having an outline for your articles is certainly is great device for producing articles quickly and efficiently.

    Another tip I was taught regarding article writing is that you start an article by introducing a problem, then agitate the problem a little and finally provide a solution to the problem.

    Best wishes

    Nickolove

  • bet

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    I needed this. Have to get to work and write those articles. Thanks

  • Laurie Brandt

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Hi,

    Reed I agree you have a valid point. However for me my writings come from a natural flow as I write. I have received many “Expert Authors” on many of my Articles.

    Now for my writing for a Video many times I do a Storyline, script type of writing such as you are speaking of where I write out my scenes, sketch out where people will stand and where I will do my shots from. I try to keep them in sequence accept for the cutaway shots…I edit them in as I am editing my story.

    I am writing one for Christmas so it will be more like a Movie rather than a bunch of random shots. I’m having fun with it. I love doing Video and am also working on a Creation How to of How to create Videos like a Pro. I am hoping this is my breakthrough product. I have been doing Video for about 4 years but it all goes back to when I was a kid, I loved taking pictures…but wanted more. I got a cheap Camcorder some years back with a small 4 x zoom, but I actually wrote my script out, got my actors and some awesome footage. This was a Video for a Vending machine company and they are sill using that Video today. That is when I
    realized that was my calling. I have made many mock up commercials over the years, a few documentaries, and a couple of Birthdays for friends, to me it was all practice.

    I feel I am now ready to create a Product for the net, wish me luck, I use secret techniques I discovered and picked up here and there, they will be revealed when the series is completed and people view it. I will send you a complentary copy, if your impressed maybe you will want to talk about some serious business.

    Anyway, thanks for letting me share and I love your work.

    Sincerely,
    Laurie Brandt

    Laurie Brandts last blog post..The Money Journey Begins Here!

  • tharanga

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    reseach is only way for intellectual writing,,,its god..

  • Geoff Dodd

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Reed, hey a useful set of pointers even for an experienced writer. We always forget that planning is the single most important step in any endeavour. Thank you.

    Geoff Dodd
    Australia

    Geoff Dodds last blog post..Download Free MP3 Music

  • Geoff Dodd

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Thank you Reed for a powerful reminder about the importance of planning our writing!

    Geoff Dodd

    Geoff Dodds last blog post..Unlimited Download MP3 and Movies

  • Asher

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Hi Reed,

    Thanks for sharing this… Using an
    outline for article writing helps a
    ton. It’s very useful. I usually
    start with a thought in mind and
    when it gets started… it just
    flows.

    An outline is something that I use
    to sort of “fill in the blank” to
    help me get started.

    Thanks for sharing this with
    everyone for better article writing!

    Asher

    Ashers last blog post..Mike Dillard Killing His Own Affiliates

  • Shawn Horwood

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Very informative. I am fairly good at writing articles quickly and easily, I always have been. I created a blueprint for myself for writing articles and I have found that it helps a lot. I agree with what you talk about in this post, though I have been following this process for quite some time.

    Shawn Horwoods last blog post..Avoid ArticleMarketer.com at All Costs!

  • PV Reymond

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Hi Reed,

    It’s a good idea to have an outline for your articles. It will help you to write faster and better.

    Thanks,
    ^PV Reymond

    http://www.startup-internetbusiness.com

    PV Reymonds last blog post..Twitter Tools

  • Richard

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Well worth printing off this post to keep to hand when sitting down to write your articles. Great work Reed!

    Richards last blog post..3 Extra Income Streams – Zero Cost!

  • Slavica

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    I would like to point the following:
    There is a difference:

    It is good having an *outline*for writing Articles if that comes to something we could name expert theme:list building,SEO,web design,sales copy,…

    Inspirational writing

    If you write in a style of a Writer-literature work,then an *outline* there is in your mind,but i never made it in reality on the paper,because an Inspiration and words emerge so quickly,that i am afraid of having them run away.

    Talent is most important

    Slavicas last blog post..Christmas-In the Glory of the Love

  • Ari Lestariono

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Article writing is like an art, you have to know what you are going to write for your readers attention and must captive the attention.If writing article for online business, the author must put in a way that will blend the article with keywords content to catch on index search engine.Thus will drive visitors to your site

  • Anna Kindler

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Hey Reed, Thank you for a great read. As a new person in article writing I am finally learning how important it is to outline your article. It really does help me. Thanks again. How is your little son doing?

  • Mom At Home

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    I got a great course that shows you a formula for writing an article in seven minutes. It might not be the way to write great articles but if you only want to use them for getting backlinks then why waste more time than necessary?

  • MARINA1965

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    GOD BLESS YOY!!! GOD BLESS YOU!!! GOD BLESS YOU!!!

  • Srinivasan

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    A nice article. Here are some more tips for writing quick articles which I use:

    Step 1.Introduction: Tell what you want to tell
    Step 2.Body: Tell it
    Step 3.Conclusion: Tell what you have told

    I also refer a lot to yahoo answers for the questions being asked and some interesting reader content which are very useful in writing articles.

    Srinivasan

  • Martin Lodey

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Informative article with some great tips.
    It really is essential to have an outline for your article from the begining.
    Often, when producing my outlines, other ideas come to mind naturally and can create further articles from just the one outline.
    Once you start using outlines you will find yourself becoming more effective with your article writing.

  • Derek Anders

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Great post. My style of writing is different, I get an idea an then go with it. If I try to brainstorm and plan an outline then I lose interest in the article that I am writing. Maybe its just me but that is how I work. Great site bro!

    Derek Anderss last blog post..Comment on Guide To Internet Marketing by Small Web Biz » Small Web Biz’s Guide To Internet Marketing

  • Newtone

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Reed, really very informative article. Thanks.

  • Newtone

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Reed, your suggestions are good and applicable. Thanks.

  • Matthew Lord

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    Reed another great post. I believe outlining articles is an important step, and another important step many newbies overlook is keyword research. You must be able to write quality articles, and write them fairly quickly to achieve maximum potential from article marketing.

    http://www.marketingprimetime.com/instantarticles

  • Pat Gunning

    Reply Reply December 12, 2008

    If you have never written an article there is a hidden benefit that will appear just as you finish…

    Article writing is not completely structured because it is one part knowledge and two parts creativity. That means that you’ll be thinking of things to include and the right wording that says it, in random order.

    …But there is a side benefit to this process… and that is that each time you write an article you have the opportunity to see the subject from a different perspective. You now have the ability to get to know the subject at an even deeper level.

    In case you haven’t guessed by now this really helps in creating sales copy that converts your prospects into income…

    Yep, this is so cool that I really got excited when I discovered it…

  • Paul Livingston

    Reply Reply December 13, 2008

    Thanks Reed. I never understood outlines that well (I didn’t pay much attention in school). I just wrote what I had to to get through.

    This “outline” of outlining will help 😉

    Paul Livingstons last blog post..Grow Your Lists with Giveaways

  • Paul Livingston

    Reply Reply December 13, 2008

    Oops, forgot to mention…

    I gave your giveaway a plug in my latest blog post.

    Paul Livingstons last blog post..Grow Your Lists with Giveaways

  • Francis

    Reply Reply December 13, 2008

    Thank you Reed for this good information.
    It’s very usefull to many of us.

    Just go on….!!

  • admin

    Reply Reply December 14, 2008

    @Jeen thanks

    @Melody ouch that is not good sorry to hear

    @Timothy editing on the fly lol

    @Ron that’s a good tip

    @Husanto thanks

    @normz2 I hate proof reading as well and if someone does do it my stuff is almost always a lot better

    @Edouard I’ll look forward to it

    @David keep us posted on your results

    @Nickolove that’s a good tip as well

    @bet you’re welcome

    @Laurie sure send me a copy

    @tharanga yeah research is important

    @Geoff you’re welcome

    @Asher you’re welcome

    @Shawn what’s your blueprint like?

    @PV you’re welcome

    @Richard thanks

    @Slavica I agree different styles and types of writing require different things

    @Ari I agree it is an artform

    @Anna you’re welcome, he’s doing great

    @Mom it’s always good to be able to write something fast

    @Marina1965 thank you

    @Srinivasan good tips

    @Martin agreed

    @Derek thanks

    @Newtone you’re welcome

    @Matthew agreed

    @Pat I agree if you are teaching a concept it forces you to know a lot more about than what you would otherwise

    @Paul you’re welcome. Thanks for promoting my site.

    @Francis you’re welcome

  • delords

    Reply Reply January 24, 2009

    Great Post Reed,

    You can easily write thousands of articles by just identifying a problem in any field, write about it and the effect then recommend a solution to the problem putting this all together is already a nice article for you.

    delordss last blog post..Get Yanik Silver’s 14-Point Web Copy Analysis Free

  • Informative article. I agree that creating outline makes writing articles easier.

  • Julia Mitchell

    Reply Reply July 21, 2010

    getting many backlinks is very important for websites to gain search engine rankings.:”~

  • Joe Mason

    Reply Reply September 6, 2010

    well, if you want to have lots of backlinks, you better have great content:'”

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